McGlashan left out as selectors add more spin

Peter McGlashan could be regarded as the unluckiest man in New Zealand Cricket.
Despite the Black Caps' well documented batting woes, the selectors decided to omit the Northern Districts wicket-keeper batsman - who boasts an ODI batting average of 63 - in favour of a third spinner in the final squad for next month's World Cup.
With Gareth Hopkins missing out on the preliminary 30-man squad after a disappointing tour of India, many commentators were expecting McGlashan to be selected in the squad as back-up to Brendon McCullum. Instead the selectors decided a back-up was unnecessary in the final 15-man squad, leaving the 31-year-old with a sinking feeling.
"I've learned during my career not to expect anything but a lot of people were telling me that I had a pretty good chance of going and that does build your hopes up," he said.
"If there was ever a time to make the team, it was this one with Gareth missing out on the 30, I was disappointed but they obviously thought a back-up spinner was more useful than a back-up keeper, so we'll just have to wait and see how it goes."
He is not giving up hope of making an appearance at the tournament as a replacement.
"If you look at the tournaments so far there aren't too many tournaments where the team has finished unscathed and it's one of those locations where there are all sorts of problems with food, dehydration, so it's going to be a challenging environment."
McGlashan has played a dozen T20 internationals for the Black Caps but only four ODIs. He has only batted twice in the latter format, scoring an unbeaten 56 not out in one of his innings against India in 2009.
"To have batted only twice at that level and to get a half century against a top Indian side in one of them pleased me and I was looking forward to adding to that record at this world cup but obviously it wasn't to be this time, so we'll just have to see what lies ahead in the next couple of months."
While the score may have inflated his batting statistics, McGlashan has averaged more than 32 from 87 matches, batting mostly in the lower middle order, in his domestic limited over career. His omission from the squad will at least help Northern Districts to field their best team in the final few games of the domestic competition.
"Success for ND has been the motivating factor for me over the last couple of seasons, if I can continue playing well for them then if I did get the call up, then at least I'd have the confidence to take with me," he said.
McGlashan has limited touring experience on the sub-continent and he knows any call-up could be a double edged sword.
"I'd imagine that if I am required, it will be on fairly short notice and hopefully it won't take too long to settle in - the biggest thing will be getting used to a big change in temperature and playing conditions that will differ a lot from what we'll be playing in here."
Knights' coach Grant Bradburn said while it was good to have four players selected in the squad, as the one-day champions for 2009-10 and 2010-11, they might have hoped for one or two more - with McGlashan and the in-form top order batsman Daniel Flynn the unlucky ones.
"Both are in top form and could have easily made that squad but the selectors have gone for a certain balance but both those guys are keen and eager to take their place if they're needed as reserve players," Bradburn said.
McGlashan will be in action for the Knights tomorrow against Canterbury. The match is scheduled to start at Cobham Oval at 11am.